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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Alex McKinnon

There’s always next year: what drives the fans of teams that always lose?

Tigers Norths Adam Sisyphus Eels NRL Wests Tigers
Apisai Koroisau of Wests Tigers gives his jersey away after the club picked up their third straight NRL wooden spoon.
Apisai Koroisau of Wests Tigers gives his jersey away after the club picked up their third straight NRL wooden spoon. Photograph: Mark Evans/AAP

It’s the biggest event on the rugby league calendar. No, not Origin. Nor the seemingly inevitable Panthers v Storm grand final. Not even the NRL’s now-yearly foray into Las Vegas.

At Campbelltown Sports Stadium in Sydney’s golden southwest on a balmy Friday night, the entire year has come down to this – the Spoon Bowl. The eternally battling Wests Tigers are facing off against the Parramatta Eels to decide who will ‘win’ the wooden spoon – the dubious unofficial honour given to the team that finishes last on the competition ladder at the end of the season.

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